Estudo de associação entre queimadas, variáveis meteorológicas e doenças respiratórias em Manaus, AM

Abstract

The practice of using fire in the Amazon region is responsible for the emission of aerosol particles, under direct effects they can be associated with exogenous and abiotic factors, and indirectly to human health. Climatic variables are an important contributor to the aggravation of these diseases, low temperatures and the arrival of cold air masses provide symptoms of respiratory diseases such as colds, nasal obstruction, runny nose and sneezing. The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the occurrences of fire outbreaks, together with the meteorological variables of air temperature, precipitation, relative humidity and hospitalizations and deaths from respiratory diseases in elderly people over 60 years of age, in the municipality of Manaus, Amazonas, from 2008 to 2020. It was based on a descriptive study of the ecological type of time series. Data related to deaths and hospital admissions during the study period, made available by the Department of Statistics of the SUS (DATASUS) were analyzed and meteorological data on air temperature, precipitation and relative humidity were obtained from the National Institute of Meteorology (INMET), while the data on fires were obtained from the National Institute for Space Research (INPE). To verify the relationship between meteorological variables, fire outbreaks and respiratory diseases, Pearson's linear correlation coefficients were calculated using Excel and the Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) software. Correlations of hospital admissions obtained the following results: temperature (0.080); humidity (-0.102); precipitation (-0.005); and fires (-0.078). As for the associations with deaths from RDs: temperature (-0.074); humidity (0.083); precipitation (0.133); and fires (-0.154). The present study revealed that the outbreaks of fires and meteorological conditions have no relationship between hospital admissions and deaths from respiratory diseases, showing very weak and null associations. The analysis of the study was of fundamental importance to constitute useful data sources for the development of parameters in the health sector in the implementation of more resolute and integrated actions in environmental health surveillance. Keywords: Respiratory Diseases; Fire outbreaks; Climate Variables; Hospital Admissions.